Cloth splitting machine



Aug. 12, 1952 F. R. PxPER ET AL 2,606,614

CLOTH SPLITTING MACHINE y Filed Feb. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l FRANK R. PIPER QW JAMES MGARDNER ATTRNEYS Aug- 12, 1952 F. R. PIPER ET AL 2,606,614

CLOTH SPLITTING MACHINE ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, l`952 F. R. PIPER ETAL 2,606,614

CLOTH SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N .m HEM INVENToR FRANK R. mpx-:n @fw JAMES M. GARDNER ATTORNEYS Filed Feb. 14, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 4 m r Q N In" :s

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I O) f E f` INVENTORS FRANK -R. PIPER @d Allg- 12, 1952 F. R. PIPER ET A1. 2,606,614

CLOTH SPLITTING MACHINE JAMES M. GARDNER MM Mv ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1952 CLOTH SPLITTING MACHINE Frank RQPiper and James M. GardnenFairfax, Ala., assignors to West Point Manufacturing Company, Shawmut, Ala., a .corporation of Alabama Application February 14, 195o, seria1.1vo.144,114 i This invention relates to a cloth splitting machine, particularly to mechanism adapted to split continuously moving cloth lengths with automatically controlled accuracy of alignment. Towels, for example, rarely exceed two feet in width, and for the sake of loom efciency are commonly woven in double widths. In the case of terry cloth toweling, the cloth is usually woven with the pile loops extending therefrom over substantially the entire towel area, with the exception of smooth border strips. When woven in double widths, the toweling must lbe split longitudinally centrally of the center double width border strip, and then transversely along the centers of the transverse border strips. Itis to perform the former operation in a continuous and automatically controlled manner that the machine of the present invention is particularly adapted.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a machine for splitting continuously moving cloth lengths in automatically controlled alignment with a variation in the weave thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cloth splitting machine comprising means for automatically and instantaneously correcting sidewise deviations of a longitudinally moving cloth length. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a cloth splitting machine including a rotary knife, and multiple means spaced forward of the knife to insure proper alignment of cloth lengths continuously moving with respect thereto.

Still another object is to provide a cloth splitting machine capable of accurately maintaining cut alignment with reference to a central longitudinal groove in a cloth length continuously Amoving with respect thereto.

Further objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged partial vplan View, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; l

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing details of the cloth guiding mechanism;

Figure 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, further showing details of the Cloth guiding mechanism;

7 Claims. (Cl. 164-1-61) A 5 Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a groove follower,` showing the'jreplaceable shoe employedtherewith; f

Figure 6A is an enlarged perspectiveview of th machine knife guide, and

Figure?v is a simplified diagram of the machine electrical system.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 is shown I an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprising a frame I6 supported by legs II, and aligned supports I2 extending from an end of the frame and suitably braced thereto. The supports I2 carry between them astock roll I3 wound on spindle I4, from which an elongated length of cloth I5 extends over guide rollers I6 to a curved stretching table Il. From stretching table I1, the cloth extends about roller I8, and thence upwardly to and overvthe rounded edge'IQ of table member 20. In passage over the table member 2li, the cloth passes under the aligning mechanism designated generally as 22 and past the rotary knife 23 to drive rolls 24 and 24', through which the longitudinally split cloth length is discharged to receiving table 125.

Drive roll 24 is driven by a motor 26 suitably mounted on the frame, through reduction gear box 21, power being transmitted therefromto a shaft 28, and thence through pulleys 29, belts 30 and pulleys 32 to the drive roll. By means of belt 33 and pulley 34, rotary knife 23 may be driven directly from the gear box, desirably at a substantially greater rotational speed than that of the drive rolls. Drive rolls 24 and 24' may be engaged for contra-rotation by suitable gearing, or may lbe merely frictionally engaged.

In Figure 2 is shown an exemplary cloth length I5, comprising a double width of terry cloth toweling having extensive pile areas 35, edge borders 36, and a central longitudinal border strip 31, desirably of twice the width of Iborders 36. In the example shown, the cloth length is divided into washcloth sections -by the transverse border strips 38, and may also comprise the purely decorative flat strips 39. The cloth length is conducted to rotary knife 23, and severed thereby exactly midway of the central border strip 31, whereby the cut 4I) is effected.

In operation, a stock roll I3 of cloth to be split is positioned on supports I=2, and the cloth I5 led therefrom through rollers I6 and over stretching table Il, and thence about roller I8 to table member 29, and under the aligning mechanism 22. The cloth may be longitudinally split a short distance in from the end thereof, and thesplit lengths positioned on either side of knife 23 and may be thrown to on position, whereby motor 26 I is energized and the drive rolls andfrotary knife are driven thereby. It will be apparent that the drive rolls function to draw the cloth through the machine, the cloth being longitudinally split by the rotary knife after passage through the aligning mechanism and immediately ,prior to passage through the drive rolls. by drive rolls at the discharge end of the machine,

will be tensioned by the friction of table member v2|) and stretching. table 21, aswell as. by the friction of the various guide rollers and spindle I4. Additionally, if required, Va friction brake may be applied to spindle I4 and adjusted to .give the desired tension in the cloth.

As the operation proceeds, cloth coming onto table member will not always maintain the desired alignment relative to the rotary knife, but due tofirregularities in thestock roll and other Vfactors may tendto. weavefrom side to' side. If

these' lateral deviations were permitted to per- Vsist tothe position of the knife, the cut 4G effected thereby would obviously be irregular, and considerable spoiled goodsl vwould result. The lateral weaving of the cloth length is corrected and compensated for, and the moving cloth automatically Vand 'exactly' aligned with the knife immediately prior to its approach thereto by aligning mechanism 22, which constitutes an outstanding feature of the present invention.

The aligning mechanism is partially enclosed by a lower casing 43upon which rest transverse channels 44, supporting an upper casing d5. The operative elements of the aligning mechanism are a'longitudinally spaced pair of follower members 45 and 4B', each vof which is provided with a readily replaceable *shoe 4l' adapted to ride the central'border strip 3l of the cloth. As best seenin Figure 5, the followers are provided with apertures :i8 and the shoes with correspondingly spaced studs 49, whereby the shoes are removr ably engaged to the followers, the engagement being maintained by the weight of the followers. In order to adapt the machine to accurately split cloth lengths having central border strips of different widths, follower shoes of corresponding widths must be employed, and may be substituted as required merely by lifting the followers and placing shoes of proper width thereunder, the followers, on being dropped, engaging studs 49 of the shoes and thereby effectively retaining them.

Followers 45 and 46' are restrained from longitudinal movement relative to the table member bythe arms 50 and 5e :respectively secured thereto. In the exemplary embodiment, arms and 58 extend from their respective followers in opposite directions, an expedient adopted merely to make the aligning mechanism more compact. To facilitate this arrangement, as is evident in Figure 4, arm 5E! is bifurcate and encloses arm 5G with adequate clearance sovthat the arms may function individually without interference.

The other ends of arms 55 and 56 'are secured, respectively, to pivot shafts 52 and 52', these The cloth, being moved pivots being rotatably supported in longitudinal beam 53 extending through upper casing 45 and rearwardly therefrom. Above beam 53, rocker arms 54 and 54' are iixedly secured to pivots 52 and 52. As may be best seen in Figure 2, rocker arm 54 is disposed to alternatively engage and displace the leaf blades of` niicroswitches 55A and 55B, suitably supported on an angle 56, and rocker arm 54' is similarly disposed to engage and close microswitches 55C and 55D, correspondingly mounted on angle 5l. It will be understood that the rocker arms are so disposed relative to the microswitches that when the respective arms 55 and followers 66 Y engaged thereto are exactly centered transversely of the machine, none of the switchesis closed by the rocker arms.

Laterally spaced from each follower, on each side thereof and preferably in longitudinal alignment therewith is disposed a roller pair, one roller of each pair being positioned above table member 2Q and the other below. The rollers of each pair are normally maintained in inoperative spaced relationship relative to each other, but are adapted to be brought into operative adjacency,

f whereby the moving cloth length will be frietionally engaged therebetween. The axes of eacly. roller pair are disposed at an acute angle to the direction of travel of the-cloth, the roller pairs being positioned in outwardly directed relationship relative to the cloth path, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. By reason of the angular disposition of the roller pairs, frictional engagement of lthe moving cloth length thereby will in each case effect lateral deviation of the cloth length outwardly relative to the roller pair. As best shown in Figure 4, the lower roller designated as A-D in the drawing of each pair may be rotatably mounted on the underside of table member-2G, as bythe fixed brackets 59, and disposed in substantial tangency to the plane of the upper surface ofthe table member, the lower rollers extending into cut-away portions G5 of the table member provided therefor.

r)The upper, or movable, roller designated as @2A-Dv in the drawing of each pair is suitably afiiXed to the end of a crank designated as BSA-D in the drawing, each crank being pivotally mounted on a pin designated as 64A-D in the drawing supported and retained in one of the channels 4S. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the upper ends of cranks 53A and 53B are aligned and urged together by a spring 65, and are also suitably connected, respectively, to the plungers SSA and 66B, operativelyassociated with solenoids GTA and 61B. Similarly, the upperends of cranks 63C and 63D are urged together by spring 65', and are also connected, respectively, to plunger 66C of solenoid 67C and plunger 66D of solenoid S'ID. While the structure of the preferred embodiment is most simple, it will be evident that both rollers of each pair may be movable, if desired.

When the individual solenolds lare not energized, the parts occupy the position shown in solid lines in Figure 4, the roller pairs being 'disposed in inoperative spaced position. As each solenoid is energized, the associated plunger is displaced inwardly relative thereto, displacing thereby the upper end of the connected crank against the action of the spring Si', whereby the crank is pivoted about its pin 64 and displaces the upper roller carried'thereby into adjacency with the lower roller cf the same pair. The positionof plunger 65C, crank 53C and upper vroller @2C effected by energization of solenoid '51CA is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4.

Power for operation of the solenoids is introduced into the aligning mechanism casing by means of conduit 58 leading to the junction box 69, from which suitable conductors lead to the switches and solenoids, as indicated in Figure '1. The functioning of the aligning mechanism will now be described in detail. Referring first to the forward follower 45, the follower is provided with a shoe substantially the same width as that of the central border strip 31 of the cloth to be split. lThe cloth length being properly threaded through the machine, as previously described, the follower and shoe are positioned in the groove formed by the central border strip between the piled areas on both sides thereof, and the machine started. By reason of its smooth form and the lack of lateral restraint, the shoe and follower will ride Vthe groove in the moving cloth length, being retained therein by their weight and to a partial extent by the weight of the associated g arm 50.

Obviously, any sidewise deviation of the moving cloth length 31 will effect corresponding lateral deviation of the follower. Through arm 55,

lateral movement of the followerV causes rotation the crank 63A secured thereto is rotated about pin 64A. The upper roller 62A is thereby displaced into operative'adjacency with lower roller 58A, the roller pair thereupon engaging the moving cloth to the left of follower and effecting a corrective sidewise movement of the cloth to the left. As the central border strip of the cloth is returned to proper alignment by the roller pair EBA-62A, thefollower 43 is returned thereby to centrally aligned position and microswitch A is permitted to open, de-energizing solenoid 51A, whereupon the spring returns crank 63A and upper roller 52A t0 inoperative position. Similarly, a deviation of the cloth to the left, looking in the direction of its movement, causes rocker arm 54 to close microswitch 55B, energizing solenoid 61B and causing the roller pair 58E- 52B to the right ofthe follower to engage the cloth and displace it to the right until thecloth length has been returned to proper alignment, whereupon switch 55B opens and the upper roller 62B returns to inoperative position. t will be evident that the mechanism is effective to properly and automatically maintain cut alignment with reference tothe central border strip of the cloth, irrespective of variations in the total widthk of the cloth length and the like, and the cut 43 is at'all times straight and true.

This much of the mechanism, comprising a single follower and a roller pair on either side thereof, is effective in many cases to satisfactorily maintain proper alignment of the moving cloth length. It has been found, however, that even better alignment control of the moving cloth strip, especially at high speeds, is effected by duplicating the mechanism at a point longitudinally spaced therefrom. In the embodiment shown, this is accomplished by follower 45', which is effective in the manner described above to operate alternatively microswitches 55C and 55D, which are in turn effective, respectively, to energize solenoids 61C and 61D, controlling in thismanner the roller pairs 58C-62C and 58D--62D.

Accordingly, lateral deviations of the moving knife, whereby an especially effective control of' alignment is attained under all conditions of operation. Y

Supported below longitudinal beam 53, at the rear end of upper casing 45, is a knife guide 10, provided, as in the case of followers 46 and 4B', with a replaceable guide shoe 12. The knife guide is xedly mounted relative to table member 20, and its shoe 12 is effective to ride the groove formed by central border strip 31 and prevent lateral deviation thereof between the aligning mechanism and the knife. The guide shoe 12 may be replaced when required as in the case of shoes 41 and 41', by removing the bolt 1l and raising the knife guide to disengage the studs 45 of the shoe. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the rear portion of the knife guide is provided with a slot 13 adapted to partially enclose the knife,v

whereby the guide extends on both sides of the leading edge of the knife and serves to atten and hold the cloth length as it is being severed.

At its rear end longitudinal beam 53 desirably supports also a Sharpener mechanism.` As best seen in Figure 3, this mechanism comprises a rotary Sharpener 14 mounted in the end of a swinging arm 15, pivotally supported between lugs 16 extending from the bracket 11 suspended below the beam. The swinging arm may be rotated into and out of engagement with the rotary knife by means of a linkage comprising link 18, rod 19, and link 80, the link being operatively engaged to an operating handle 8l conveniently mounted above beam 53. It will be understood that ,the rotary knife 23 may be sharpened while the machine is in operation, merely by displacing handle 8| in the clockwise direction as shown in Figure 3, whereby the arm 15 willswing Sharpener 14 into sharpening engagement with the knife. The need f or sharpening may be determined from the condition of the cut 4E) produced, Aandwhen required the knife may be sharpened Without interrupting the splitting operationi As the longitudinally split lengths are discharged from drive rolls 24 and 24', theyA are received on receiving table 25, whereat they may be transversely severed into unit lengths by manually operated means, or may be collected and removed for further operations. When a stock roll becomes exhausted and the cloth length is longitudinally split throughout its length, the, machine may be turned olf by means of main switch42,

the spindle i4 removed, and replaced by'a spindleY viously indicated, if the new stock roll comprises.

a central border strip of width differing from that of the roll previously worked upon, the shoes 41 and 41 and the guide shoe 12 may bereplaced by similar shoes corresponding to the width of the new stock roll central border strip.

A simplified circuit diagram of the electrical system of the machine is shown in Figure '1, wherein it will be seen that power is conducted from a suitable source by means of hot'wire 82 through main switch 42 to motor 25 and junction bo-x 59. From the junction box, as shown, individual circuits lead through switches 55A, B,' C,

and D to solenoids 61A, B, C, and D, respectively, and thence to the grounded return wire.8:3.,.

will be recognized that the switches may be lof any suitable type, although microswitches have been found to be especially desirable, affording particularly sensitive control.

The machine desirably also comprises a circuit breaker operative to-stop the machine in the event of excessive lateral movement of the cloth length entering upon table member 2li, of a magnitude greater than the aligning mechanism 22 is capable of correcting, to preclude spoilage cf goods in such event. To attain this end, in the exemplary embodiment a transverse bar Ei is provided in the aligning mechanism, suitably connected -to hot wire 82 through the solenoid 85 of a circuit breaker indicated generally as 8e, the bar 84 being insulated from the machine, as byy the insulating blocks 8l, see Figure 3. Spaced stop members 88 extend downwardly from bar 84, the stop members being disposed oneither side of follower arm 5&1 and inside the bifurcate portions of follower arm 5?, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. rIhe machine being grounded, it will be evident that inthe event either follower 46 or 46 is caused to deviate laterally more than a predetermined maximum in accordance with sidewise movement of the cloth length, one of the stop members G8 will be contacted by the corresponding follower arm, thereby completing a circuit through the circuit breaker and breaking'the power circuit to motor 26 and junction box G9. kIt will be apparent that the circuit breaker 8G may be of any conventional type either electromagnetic, as shown, electronic, or otherwise.

It' will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above tudinally spaced followers disposed above said table member and adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, a roller pair disposed on. each side ofreach of said followers with axes at an acute angle to the direction of travel of said cloth length, the rollers of each pair being normally spaced but adapted to` be moved into operative engagement with the cloth length passing therebetween, 'and means responsive to lateral deviation of each of said followers in each direction to `v actuate the opposite roller pair, and thereby laterally displace the moving cloth length in compensation of such deviation, including a knife guide disposed above said table member and adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, said guide being spaced from said followers in the ydirection of movement of said cloth length, and a splitting knife associated with said guide.

. 2. Ina machine of the class described, a tablev member, means for continuously moving an elongated cloth length over said tableV member, an arm longitudinally disposed above said table member, oneend of said arm being pivoted and the other bearing a follower adapted to ride groove in said cloth length, a roller pair disposed on each side of said follower with axes at an acute angle to the direction of travel of said cloth length, the rollers of each pair being normally spaced but adapted to be moved into operative engagement with the cloth length passing therebetween, and electrical means responsive to lateral pivotal movement of said arm in each direction to actuate the opposite roller pair and thereby laterally displace the moving cloth length in compensation of such movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, a table member, means for continuously Vmoving an elongated cloth length over said table member, an arm longitudinally disposed above said table member, one end of said arm being pivoted and the other end bearing a follower adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, a roller pair disposed on each side of said follower with axes at an acute angle to the direction of travel of said cloth length, the rollers of each pair being normally spaced, a solenoid associated with each roller pair and operative to move the associated pair into frictional engagement with the cloth passing therebetween, and switch means responsive to lateral pivotal movement of said arm in each direction to actuate the opposite solenoid and thereby laterally displace the moving cloth length in compensation of such movement.

Ll. In a machine of the class described, a table member, means for continuously moving an elongated cloth length over said table member, a plurality of `arms longitudinally disposed above said table member, one end of each arm being pivcted and the other bearing a follower adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, said followers being longitudinally spaced relative to each other, a roller pair disposed on each side of each of said followers with axes at an acute angle to the direction of travel of said cloth length, the rollers of each pair being normally spaced but adapted to be moved into operative engagement with the cloth length passing therebetween, and electrical means responsive to lateral pivotal movement of each of said arms in each direction to actuate the opposite roller pair and thereby laterally displace the moving cloth length in compensation of such movement.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4, including a knife guide disposed above said table member and adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, saidpguide being spaced from said followers in the direction of movement of the cloth length. and a rotary splitting knife associated with said guide and disposed to sever the cloth length centrally of the groove in which said guide rides.

6. A machine as defined in claim 5, wherein said knife guide and said followers comprise replaceable shoes, whereby said guide and followers may be readily altered to ride grooves of vari ous widths.

7. In a machine of the class described, a table member, means for continuously moving an elongated cloth length over said table member, a follower disposed above said table member and adapted to ride a groove in said cloth length, a roller pair disposed on each side of said follower with axes at an acute angle to the direction of travel of said cloth length, the rollers of each pair being normally spaced but adapted to be moved into operative engagement with the cloth length passing therebetween, means responsive to lateral deviation of said follower in each direction to actuate the opposite roller pair and thereby laterally displace the moving cloth length in compensation of such deviation, and means responsive to excessive lateral deviation of said fol- 9 lower in each direction to deactivate said cloth UNITED STATES PATENTS length moving means. Number Name Date FRANK R. PIPER 477,352 Cottrell June 21, 1892 JAMES M GARDNER 789,053 O'CGIIHOI May 2, 1905 5 1,062,423 Steber May 20, 1913 REFERENCES CITED 1.186,906 Hopkins June 13, 1916 6 The following references are of record 1n the 'ggga 'sgr 11',

me of this patent: 1,992,649 Brunk Feb 26, 1935 

